DAIRY advocate group Farmer Power’s criticised industry body Dairy Australia’s independent review which they claim has “no transparency†at Tuesday’s crisis meeting in Colac.
Farmer Power collected signatures to push Dairy Australia to reassess those chosen to conduct their independent review, which was announced at their November 2012 AGM, including DA company secretary Ross Joblin, former DA president Allan Burgess, Apple and Pear Australia chairman John Lawrenson, and former DA director John Doyle.
Farmer Power member Kevin Ashworth delivered a presented to the crowd of 180, claiming the Dairy Australia’s constitution was flawed to take power away from levy payers classed as group A members while group B members, such as companies, lobby groups and Australian Dairy Products Federation had stronger voting rights.
He criticised Dairy Australia eligible voting system which separates group A members, predominantly farmers and levy payers who can move a resolution and vote if they have 100 votes of support from group A, whereas group B members, made up of companies and lobby groups can’t vote on resolutions.
However, Mr Ashworth said a “loophole†for people in the industry who were both group B and group A members enabled group B members to move a resolution and vote through the group A membership.
“They claim they are working for the farmer but they are working for themselves,†Mr Ashworth said.
Farmer Power sent a letter to Dairy Australia demanding a “truly independent†committee to conduct the review, which Mr Ashworth said they refused, claiming it was interfering with director’s daily duties.
“We don’t believe it is independent or transparent when one of the original writers of Dairy Australia’s constitution is on the committee,†he said. “If he has written the original constitution how can he be independent?
“We want them to get a committee together that we believe is truly independent but they have refused our request.â€
Mr Ashworth said the disgruntled levy payers attack stemmed from Dairy Australia managing director Ian Halliday refusing to comment on his annual wage at a Warrnambool Dairy Service Levy Poll meeting last year.
Source: FarmWeekly